Dublin Adds €3m For Reconciliation

The Dublin Government has underlined its determination to continue funding reconciliation initiatives across the border.

In the week which saw the Stormont Assembly complete devolution with appointment of a local Minister for Justice, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin announced that another 43 NI groups would receive €1.46 million in funding.

The overall budget for this year is €3 million - this covers both the Reconciliation Fund and the Anti-Sectarianism Fund and over 1999-2009, the two funds have disbursed over €21 million to over 750 groups.

"Now more than ever we are committed to honouring the provisions in the Good Friday Agreement to provide financial assistance for the work of reconciliation," the Minister said.

Reaffirming the Government's support, Minister Martin said, "despite the fact that these are more difficult times economically than we have experienced in recent years, the Government's commitment to reconciliation on the island of Ireland remains steadfast".

Despite financial constraints, the Minister stated that there would be no decrease in the availability of funding in 2010 for groups involved in cross-community and cross-border outreach and reconciliation work across the island of Ireland.

He underlined the need to continue to invest in the rebuilding of relationships which have been damaged by the Troubles emphasising that "the next decade will see the continuation of the difficult work of building a fully normalised and shared society in Northern Ireland, and a valuable contribution to this process can be made through my Department's Reconciliation and Anti Sectarianism Funds as well as deepening and strengthening the relationship between North and South".

Among the projects funded are a grant of €37,500 from the Anti-Sectarianism Fund for 'The 1825 Project' based in Brownlow, near Craigavon.

This is a community based training organisation based in Craigavon which designs and delivers community relations and community development programmes on a cross border and cross community basis.

This allocation of funding will go towards the Pathway to Leadership project, a training project for young people from West Cavan and Craigavon Borough.

Some €425,000 from the Reconciliation Fund is going for Cooperation Ireland, a non-sectarian, non-political, registered charity established in 1979 as a response to the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Its aim is to build peace by advancing mutual understanding and respect by promoting practical co-operation between all the people of Ireland and between the different communities in Northern Ireland. This funding is awarded as a contribution to support new and existing programmes.

€270,000 is to go to Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation devoted to peace building and reconciliation in Ireland, North and South, Britain and beyond. Funding is awarded towards the Centre's programme work, building peace, fostering reconciliation by facilitating dialogues and creating peace education resources.

Also among the beneficiaries, is a €40,000 grant for the Maiden City Festival based in Derry.

The Maiden City Festival was introduced as a means to reduce the potential for violence at Apprentice Boys of Derry events and to create a better understanding of Protestant culture amongst all communities "towards a shared city for all".

(BMcC/GK)